Thermostatic-control valve for steam radiators



March 3, 1931. E. s. HALSEY y THERMOSTATIC CONTROL VALVE FOR STEAMRADIA'IURS INVENTORZ mw @Si ATTORNEYS,

March 3, 1931.. E; s, HALSEY x THEHMOSTATIC CONTROL VALVE FOR STEAMRADIATORS F'-led July 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE NTOR I 6 llrl .w muy4 3 ,o M 74 n w 1 0 Z 70 a| u F/ wm/ pw M/ om, 1 M M2 2 H 2 3 /7 i 954Edlfmd Si Halsey, rgl/ ATTORN EYS ramada/isf.' s. i931 insee-iz nnwaii-nHausnr, or wasiaiiie'ien,v nisrnicfr 'or'coiinivrniamnnniviosmamicfcon'rncr. vanua non STEAM naniii'io'ns Application.filedAJuly 6, 1929.. Serial No. 376,398.

My invention relates to tlierinostatic modulating steam inlet valves forradiators of the- Fig. la'is a view of the valve body and a handoperated screw stem for operating the valve without the thermostat.`

llig. 2 is a iace view of the heat'insulatlng disc or shield with partsin section.

Figs. 3, l and 5 are views of a portion of an operating'iod with packingwashers carried thereby to prevent 'leakage of steam, these views beingpartly insection. Y

f Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of part of Fig. e.,

Fig. 7 is a view siinilarto F ig..1 of a modified forni of cell.

Fig. 8 is a rear view oiz part of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a face view of a heat insulating disc.` 1' l` Fig. 10 is aview of a spring holding rind.

Fig.` 11 shows another forni of the` appliance. 1

` ln these drawings, 1 is the valve body or casing, b the 'steam supplyconnection. 2 is the'valve disc having a rJenkins or like seating disc 3to engage the seat l Jfor closing the inlet port 5 for the steam.

This valve is automatically controlled by therinostatic means whichincludes a globular container or pressure cell 6 for a liquidexpansibleby heat. The valve may also be controlled by a hand operation of theparts to shut ofl' steam from or supply steam to the radiator, certainof the parts belonging to the theiniostatic means entering into themanual operation. rEhis manual operation may be performed by using thecell member 6 as a handle. f

rEhe valve 2, 3 is borne upon by the reduced screw threaded end 7 of acomparatively yslender rod 8 which seats in a conical recess 9 in therear face of the valve member 2. The

`slender rod 8 is united at its rear end by a screw thread vor otherconducting means to y l nger member' 10 of brass or other metal li Angin a tubular shell. 11 extending dia-Y nietrically of the globularshell'or cell 6 andV united atl its closed rear en d with a bellows 12lwhich is arranged coaxiall'y of said shell 11.

r`lhe ifoiwardend ofthe bellows isattached liquid-tight to the outerwallof the cell by spinning and sweating into a ring stopper kmember 6 priorto theinsertion and sweatine ci" said sto a er into the neck ofcell 6.

s, 1 llne tubularshell4 1l which iswithin the bellows is spun over atits front end so that its edge embraces and constitutes a retaining'stop for the forward end of the member l0; The cell 6 is supported by aplate 13, which also increases its radiating surface,'attached to itsshell by spinning or expanding the shell at @cout over the inner edge ofthe disc i n i0. a' 'heat insulating disc or shield.15,`washers discandthe plate 13, to space'itheni apart for the Jfree circulation of 'airbetween them.

The heat insulating disc, which is intended to shield the thermostaticcell from the heat ,said sleeve or hollow stem 20, with clearance asindicated by the double dotted lines at 20ay and it alsoyextends throughthe insulating disc 15 and the forward endlo the brass shell 11 withclearance. This rod is so proportioned as to raise the temperature ofthe cell up to about 100o F. and it will be noted that the heattransmitted or conducted by this slender rod is conveyed to the centerof theV cell and is dissipated through the wall of this cell. Rapidcirculating currents of the liquid are set up by convection and the heatis transmitted from the center of the cellr to its enclosing walls bythese currents.

Thisplatel 13 receives screws 11i from 'w16 being interposed between theinsulating e generally are poor heat conductors, but it provision ismade to induce or stimulate rapid circulation the rapidity or"thetemerature change throughout the liquid body by the dissipation ofheat at the outer shell, resulting from changes et room temperature,

is more pronounced than otherwise would be the case, hence i transmitthe heat to the .center of the cell in a definite degree by means ot theslender rod 8.

lt will be noted that the slender rod 8, which conducts the hea" to theinterior of the cell, is supported at its liront end in a fixed sleeveor mein er 23, having a bore which is cylindrical at its forward end andis 'flaring at its rear end. rlhe slender rod is fitted to slide in andbe supported by the cylindrical portion of the lined sleeve; and at itsrear end, this slender rod is supported in the member or block l0 whichin turn is supported by the centrally disposed shell or tube ll. 'lheintermediate part of the slender rod, which is the major portionthereof, is tree from contact with any adjacent part and receives noheat by Contact except at its forward end, this effect being due to theclearance about the intermediate major portion of the rod. By reason ofthis clearance throughout the major portion ont the rod and by reason ofthe slender character of this rod, the conduction of heat by it to thecenter ot the cell from the steam heated parts; i.e., the valve member 2and -tlrredsleeve 23, can be made approximately definite and thereforethe cell at its center will receive a substantially fixed degree ot heat'for its proper operation in respect to the room temperature. Y

rlhe iiXed sleeve member 23 is secured to the inner extension of thebonnet 22 by fillets of solder or in any other suitable way. The valvedisc has a rear extension 2a which is guided on the outside of the Xedsleeve or member 23, so that this member performs the two-fold purposeof guidino' the slender operating rod 8 and the valve member 2.

rlhe forward end of this liXed member 23 is conical at 23 and receivescontact from the packing or washer '24: when the valve is rctracted 'toits full limit so as to seal the joint at this point, should thethermostatic cell, together with the slender rod be removed torreplacement or repair. Said slender rod has packing at 25, as will bedescribed later, and

which packing, when the rod is in place, prevents the escape of steamalong it.

The valve 2 is connected to a bellows 26 attached thereto. The rear endot this bellows has attached thereto a ring 27, which is clamped betweenthe bonnet and the valve casino to which it is screw threaded as shown.A retrieving spring 28 engages, at its iront end, the coarse screwthreads ot the valve eX- tension 2a and at its rear end this spring isheld by a ring orpiate 29 which surrounds the inward extension of thebonnet and bears upon the ring or plate 27. The ring 29, as shown inFig. l0, is providedrwith a recess 30 to allow the end of the helicalspring 28 to be threaded through it. This spring, to-

ether with the bellows, arovides the means vliereby the valve isretracted from its seat, and siould the bellows become fatigued or breakdown, theV spring will A'act alone to accomplish the result.

A safety spring 3l is arranged in "Le tubular shell l1, etween the backend th the bloclr or plunger 10 to whici the slender operating rod 8 isconnected. This relief spring is compressed initially or normally to l5or 2O pounds.

lt is held under this pressure by the brass `shell l1 which contains it,and only i ldscin case the liquicL should continue tosexpand to someextent after the valve had fully seated.

is before stated, heat is dissipated from he center of the shelloutwardly and the right amount oi heat is conveyed to this cener by tneslender operating` rod 8, to set up TheV cell being eX- v l theconvection currents. posed to the Vtemperature of the room, Si l haveits contained VVliquid influenced thereby to expand or contract thusaffecting the be lows l2 so that this will be compressed or reduced inlength under an expansion ot the liquid in the cell due to a rise oicrooi temperature. Under this condition, the Yshell or sleeve l1 will bemoved lei-'tward and will transmit its movement through the unyieldingspring 3l to the bloclr l() an d therefore to the operating rod 8 toclose the valve 2 toward or upon its seat l 'for cutting down or cuttingod the steam supply to the radiator against the retrieving orretracti'ng action of 'the spring 28 and bellows 26. l/Vhen the roomtemperature falls, the liquid in the cell con tracts, allowing thebellows 1l to expand, anc the shell 11 recedes toward the right, and rod8 is moved rightward with the bellows 26 and retrieving spring 28,retracting the valve 2 from its seat for the admission of steam to theradiator. v

II" it is desired to operate the valve by handR the cell or globe 6 isused as a handle or the insulating disc l5 may be so used to turn thescrew threaded sleeve or stem 2O after releasing stop 32V, which willtherefore move leftward and cause its end to bear on the shoulder 8a ofor lock nut of the slender rod CIT titi

8, thus moving this rod leftward and closing the valve. Theslender rodhas packing at 25 to Yprevent the escapeotsteam along it should thebellows 26 fail through rupture.

' rlhe cell yor thermostatic unit may beremoved by turning the cell `tounscrew the sleeve or stemy from the bonnet 22. The rod 8 goes with thethermostatic unit and the valve retracts'from its` seat, and causes itspacking 24 to engageethe end of the fixed 'sleeve 23, so that in case ofleakage of the bellows 26, the.A steam will be unable, because of theseal formed by said packing, to reachv are intended to hold a segmentalmemberv 34, Fig. 9 by means of screws 35.' The segment has a projection86 to come againstvthe stop pin 32a to limit the open vposition ofthe Yvalve and its lupper temperature limit.r rllhe segment may be set invarious positions about' the disc so that various degrees ot opening otthe valve initially can be provided foriv .f This arrangement allows thevalve'to be Yadjusted by-hand, but at kthe same time, it Vprovides astop for arresting the rotation of .the thermostaticunit according tovarious adjustments desired of the valve. In other words, the prescribedadjustment of the segment having been made to get a certain temperature,the parts may be turned to` get another temperature, but when it isdesired to attain againl the highest prescribed teinperature, it issimply necessary to turn the parts to bring stud 36 to the pin 82a.

The packing 25 for the'operating rod is shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4;,5, and 6.` The preferred form is shown in Fig. l and enlarged view Fig.l6. rl`his is made of three washers consisting of a comparatively thickfcentral washer a and two thinner washers al, one at each side ot thecentral washer, and in the torni oit cups. The central thicker washer isof a diameter to` lit the bore of the seat in which theA packing lieswith its raw librous edge bearing upon the wall ot said bore,whereas thethinner washers al are ot such diameter as to provide a flange a2 to liealong the surface ofthe rod and between it and the wall ot the bore.lfhese washers are formed oflaininated, fibrous material, such asVellumoid or asbestos steam packing, which have a binder to prevent thefibres from detaching'from the washer'.

"the torni shown in i ln Fig. 5, the washer is made of two sheets4 Theends of the fibres or the edgesv of the laminations provide 'a more orless plastic edge which conforms readily, especially when wet by thesteam tothe surface upon which they bear. yThe cup-shaped or bent overwalls ofthe outerthin washers lie ina shallow groove dei'inedby theshoulders or walls a3, at, the :former being on the rod and th latter onthe nut 38 screwV threaded onto the end oi the rod.1 ln the form now`being described, the walls or shoulderis'as, at oiin the retaining wallsorthe ends of the cup shaped' washers which at their edges are more or lplastic.

lnsteadot using three washers as in Fig. 4lV and `Fig. 6, l may use butYone washer, as

'shown'iii F 3. In this form, the washer at or near itsperinhe'iyvisparted and crushed or laid open in such a way as to provide two cup`iformaticiis, which 4lill i he channel land vhave 'the saine effect in`material degree-to of laminated material, each sheet being ot' cupform. ln this Fig. also, the flanges of ihe wash overlie the outersurface oi"v the f.

rod and clamping nut which arersm'ooth and have iiochannel Vformingshoulders as in Fig. '6. J

The laminated material when unrestrained, i

willexpand under the action of thefsteain which gives it a' wetcondition, therefore by proportiening he washers to the size ci' thespace defined bythe conlining'or restraining walls, we vwill get -agoodpacking: contact, with a very low friction element.

' 'It will be noticed that the fixed tubular meniberor sleeve 23 inwhich the steam pack- -ing 25 is located has its taper bore so disposedthat the rod S when being inserted iii'o place will enter the largerdiameter end.V oit this bore and the packing 25 will be acted ongradwall ot the bore and therefore, the advancing edge of the formedcup.pac.king will not be distorted orvturned back, but will reach itsseat at the cylindrical scribed position. f

rlhe above effect is aided byk giving the rod a slight rotary motion asit advances along the bore of the sleeve, as though screwing itV intoplace.`

- 'l show in Figsf' and 8a modified forni of the thermostatic elements.kand Vassociated mechanism in which the cell-propervcontaining volatileliquid is madefup of, say as an bore in its preico ually, owing to thelong low incline of thek Y example, two members 6a containing a volaftile liquid, such as common ether.V These' members are inclosed in ahousing creasing 6b, one of these members bearingrupon a ring 39attached to a shell or tray shaped member l() of sheet metal having thetriangular shape shown in Fig. 8.

This sheet metal member has links 4l pivoted thereto at 42, said linksat their other ends being pivoted to ears 43 extending 'from a plate 44,which is attached to the heat insulating shield 15o'l which forms thebase of the enclosure 6b. At their intermediate points 46, the links orlevers are pivotally connected to thedisc 45, whici is connected to theslender onora-ting rod 8o,-

hen the cell members cx the rr g ill) with its Y thus through flie lvera links, this movement 's transmitted to the d5, with a multipliedforce o t y to one, s that the steam irlet valve is moved leitwardtowards cl ed position in ch.. to the action o'i the retrieving sorii'nDdescribed. 4 f

En tais inodhrcation, no sealing bellos/'s lilie 2o el the firstdesfrriberL "forni is used, but depend upon the steam Apacking at 25 toBefore this packing passes its working bore in removing the cell willdraw the 'nele the seal. out oi unit, 'yace washer up at the end oiltlieiixe f Loe" 23 so that appliance is sealed :tor changing the cell.

ils shown in Fig. le, l show a rod, such as 85, `provi with the pickingdescribed vshove, but having a'screw threaded portion 'l a handle whichcan be used as s operate the steam .alve 2`by hand. p oliance can beusedin substitution for u the e bonnet and the rod extend 'ne sleeve 23 intheV saine manner as tir-ated, they are to be regarded as belongingV tothe said other form. Y Y

.is shown in Fig. 7, l have provi-ded a protective strainer basket o forthe seat of the valve, below the valve, detachably carried by the lowerportion o of the union coupling which is Xed to thevertical steam supplypipe.

By this combination, the strainer is readily accessible for inspectionor cleaning Without disturbing the valve, i. e., by simply unscrewingthe union ano springing the pipe to one side, the strainer is broughtout to view, Where it is easily removed.

In Fig. 1l l show so much of the agpliance as will illustrate a furtherimprovement, it being understood that the general form of the applianceis like that above described.

ln this form the screw threaded sleeve 20a is adapted to have rotarymovement independent of the thermostatic cell and heat shield or disc15a, and said disc is adapted to be rotatably fixed to the valve casingby a pin 32m held at one eno a socket 823/ of the valve casing. Thesleeve 20a has a hub or 'I i i .1.1.1. LJ shell ai, misiva-.in and lieconical seat n';ierniostatie cell and associated iloarts.`

ilange 20?) eXpa-ndedinto a recess of the disc loe, but to'permitrotarymotion of the sleeve relative to the disc. :Theisleeve is rotated by asuitable handle such for instance as an arm or'disc member lse attachedto the sleeve. 'A lle may have a gointer 15b to regb merlrs the edge or"the discV Thereis a friction washer at l5@ of any ary constructionarranged between the lo. and the sle'efeso to retain the ve in envposition to which it may be 'l arrangement, hand adjustellected byoperating the sleeve either the therinostatic cell or the disc rlheseparts will of course e axially during the adjustment by the e they willnot turn during said lhe handle may beturned to a as will cause the discl5 to leave and then the cell with its asmay be removed by turning astbe Yormlirst ln combination in thermostatic steam inlet valves, valveeasing, an inlet valve a cell containing erpansible liquid, abellowswithinY the cell, a tubular member Y bellows attachedthereto, a rodez;-tending frei the inlet valve into said tubular member, and a springwithin the tubular member interposed between the end of .the tubularmember and the rod, substantially as described. Y

2. YApparetus'according to claim l, in which a member slid-able withinthe tubular member is attached to the rod allor-ds a bearing for thespring. Y l Y ln combination with the inlet valve and its casing,thermostatic cell, a bellows there# in, a extending from the inlet valveinto the bellows and spring within the bellows and between it and therod, said rod at its 'front end contactingI the valve and serving las aconductor of a definite degree of heat to `the cell, substantially asdescribed.

e. ln combinatioin'an inlet valve for a steam radiator, a casingtherefor. Ya thermostatic cell containing an expansible fluid, a bellowswithin the cell, a tubular member arranged within the bellows andattached thereto, a rod extending from the valve and having anenlargement slidable within said tubular member and a spring betweensaid enlargement and the end of the tubular member.

'5. ln combination, a steam inlet valve, a

casing therefor, a. thermostatic cell, a rod cX- tending from the valveinto the cell,a bellows Within the cell for operating the red, meansconnected to the valve tor retrieving the'same, f

said valve having an annular extension, a

bearing Within said annular extension and sleeve connected with the cellso that the cell l can be removed and replaced, saidrod passing throughsaid sleeve, substantially as de- 1 scribed.

7. In combination, a valve casing, an inlet valve therein tor-steamradiators, a thermostatic cell removably mounted on the valve casing, arod influenced by said thermostatic cell for closing the valve, meansfor retractl ing the valve, a ,bearing having a bore against the wall ofWhich the rod Works and by which it is guided at its front end, said rodcarrying thereon a packing to seal the bore of the bearing, said packinghaving sliding contact With the Wall of said bore, substantially asdescribed. y

8. In combination, a valve casing for attachment to a steam radiator, aninlet valve therein, a thermostatic member, a rod for operating thevalve from said member, a packing on the rod, a bearing Within thecasing through which the rod moves and by Which it is guided at frontend, said bearing having av flaring bore leading thereto, substantiallyas described. y

9. In combination, a valve casing for attachment to a steam radiator, aninlet valve therein, a thermostatic member, a rod for operating thevalve from said member, a packing on the rod, a seat for the valve inrear thereof, packing for sealing said seat, said thermostatic means androd being removably mounted While leaving the valve in place, and meansfor retracting the valve onto its rear seat When said removable partsare Withdrawn, the seat packing then being eective to seal thespace'left by the removal of the rod, substantially as described.

coairially With the valvek and having a connection thereto for closing`the same, asleeve screw threaded into the valve casing and turnableAindependently of the thermostat for carrying and adjusting the saidthermostat, together with its connection, towards andr freinV the .valveseat, said thermostat being held against turning' movement duringsaidadjnstinent Vand means for so holding Athe thermostat.

12. Apparatus accordingto claim 11, in

' which the sleeve has a range of axial adjustment to move thethermostat to a point re-` leased irom its holding means sothat then 13.In combination, a valve casing, an inl let valvetherein, a thermostat, arod for imparting the movementk of the thermostat to thevalve to closethe same, a screw threaded sleeve revolubly connected With thethermostat, and Working in a screw thread of the casing, a splineconnection between the thermestat and the casing for permitting movementcoaXially of the valve but preventing rotary movement, means forVturning the sleeve to adjust the valve, or for removing the'thermostatfrom the casing, substantially as described.

14. ln combination, a valve casing for attachment to a steam radiator,an inlet valvey therein, a thermostatic cell, a rod influenced by saidcell te close the valve, a hood removably attached to the casing, and asleeve through which the rod is guided carried by said hood, said sleevecarrying the cell, substantially as described.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14:, in

f Which said hood has athreaded portion and the sleeve has a screwthreaded portion engaging the threads of the hood, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I aliiX my signature.

EDWARD S. HALSEY.

l0; In combination, a valve casing, a hood attached to the valve casingand havingk an extension Within the same, van inlet valve p sion andengaging the valve, substantially as described.

11. In combination, a valve casing, an inlet valve therein, a thermostatarranged

